A great white shark Wednesday attacked a British man after he ignored warnings and went swimming at a beach in Cape Town.

Authorities said the 42-year-old Michael Cohen, who lost his right leg and part of his left foot, made it back toward shore at Fish Hoek beach and was pulled from the water by a bystander who left before he could be identified.

Spotters had sighted the shark 90 minutes before the attack, and closed the beach. The white shark flag was raised and the siren set off. Mr Cohen was the only person in the water at the time.

Mr Cohen, who lost his right leg and part of his left foot, yesterday remained in a critical condition in hospital.

The victim was stabilized at the scene and then airlifted to Constantiaberg Medi-Clinic in a critical condition.

Cohen is an accountant who previously lived in Chiswick, west London, before moving to South Africa.